2018 Ann Recipients

In keeping with WAM’s double philanthropic mission, a portion of proceeds from this production which amounted to $15,000 was split evenly between WAM’s fourteenth and fifteenth recipients, the Denise Kaley Fund and the Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts Leadership Institute for Political and Public Impact (LIPPI) Program.

About The Denise Kaley Fund

The Denise Kaley Fund for Berkshire Women with Cancer, administered through the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation, supports the day-to-day living expenses of those living with cancer and have financial need. The fund covers the costs of transportation, housing, food, utilities, child care, insurance payments or anything that can help ease the struggles of women with cancer and allow them to focus on healing. The Denise Kaley Fund is endowed so that its support can continue annually and grow. The fund works hand-in-hand with social service agencies throughout the county so that support is offered exactly when and where it can do the most good.

Denise Kaley Fund website: https://www.berkshiretaconic.org/bGivebCurrentFutureDonors/DonorStories/DeniseKaley.aspx

“This extraordinarily generous gift from WAM opens up three major possibilities for us. We can give more gifts than last year. We now have the flexibility to make our grants even more generous than before. And more people will know about and be able to access our services because of the increased profile of our fund during the run of ANN. This gift truly helped us take a big step forward! On behalf of all the women we serve, we are so grateful.”

Barbara Bonner
Fund Advisor and Co-FounderThe Denise Kaley Fund

About The Women’s Fund Leadership Institute for Political and Public Impact, (LIPPI)

Since 1997, the Women’s Fund has been supporting women and girls in the four counties of western Mass through grant making and leadership programs. Their Leadership Institute for Political and Public Impact, or LIPPI, is a non-partisan initiative that provides women with the tools, mentors, and confidence they need to become our region’s community leaders and elected officials. LIPPI trains women in the nuts and bolts of impacting policy from a citizen perspective, and develops leadership confidence through 11 intensive workshops held in over 10 months.

Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts Leadership Institute for Political and Public Impact (LIPPI) Program website: https://www.mywomensfund.org/lippi/

“The Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts is beyond thrilled to receive a donation of $7,500 which will fund two full scholarships for Berkshire County women to attend our life-changing Leadership Institute for Political and Public Impact (LIPPI), as well other impact and leadership training for Berkshire women. Now, more than ever, we need women’s voices and representation in all aspects of leadership, and our nonpartisan LIPPI program provides women with the tools to step into that leadership.”

Donna Haghighat

CEOWomen’s Fund of Western Massachusetts

Beneficiary